Veterans Day Ceremonies and Holiday Hours

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U.S. Veterans Affairs
An image of the 353rd Infantry in France taken two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect.

Veterans Day falls on Monday, Nov. 11, and will be observed as a state and federal holiday.

The federal holiday is to commemorate the service of the nation's military veterans in ensuring peace.

It was first known as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. In recognition of the efforts of World War II veterans, President Eisenhower in 1954 signed legislation creating Veterans Day with the goal of honoring all American veterans.

The Veterans Day National Committee choses a commemorative poster each year (as seen above) from submitted artwork.

Closed on Monday, Nov. 11:
Some federal and local offices
Some public schools
BRTA buses routes are not running, offices closed; service resumes on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Public libraries

Open:
Most retail outlets, groceries
Restaurants and bars, by choice
Convenience stores
 

Veterans Day Parades, Ceremonies and Other Celebrations

Pittsfield: The annual Veterans Day ceremony will begin with a parade that steps off from Allen Street on Monday, Nov. 11, and concludes at Veterans Memorial Park on South Street.
 
Lineup will take place 9:30-9:45 a.m. on Fenn, Pearl and Allen streets, departing from City Hall at 10 a.m. 
 
A ceremony will follow at the memorial, with opening remarks from Mayor Peter Marchetti. The master of ceremonies will be Woody Vaspra from American Legion Post 68. The officer of the day is Tyrone Belanger of the Vietnam Veterans of America, James E Callahan, Chapter 65. The event will also recognize Joseph DiFilipo as the Berkshire Veterans Coalition's Veteran of the Year.
 
Pittsfield Community Television will televise the parade and ceremony on CityLink 1303, PCTV Select available at pittsfieldtv.org and its Facebook page. 
 
 
North Adams: The Veterans Day parade steps off from American Legion Post 125 on American Legion Drive at 10:40 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, and marches to the Veterans Memorial on Eagle Street. Participants are asked to arrive at the Legion by 10 a.m.; doughnuts and coffee will be available beginning at 9:30. All veterans and veterans groups are welcome to march.

 


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Drury Grad Killed in Florida Crash

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A Drury High School graduate was killed in a motor vehicle crash over the weekend in the state of Florida. 
 
Alison Felix, of Stamford, Vt., was a 2020 graduate of the high school and graduated this year from the University of Connecticut. She played basketball and soccer at Drury.
 
According to a message to the school community from North Adams' Superintendent of Schools Barbara Malkas, the district was notified that she was "tragically killed in a car collision while driving on the interstate in Florida."
 
It is not confirmed when or exactly where the accident occurred but NBC Miami Channel 6 reported a multivehicle crash on I-95 in Broward County late Saturday night in which two women were killed and four others injured. Two cars were stopped after a minor fender-bender when a third car rammed into them.
 
"She was an active, well-known, and admired student during her high school days, and leaves her sister, a current Drury senior, and many staff and friends who are shocked and saddened by her loss," Malkas wrote. "North Adams Public Schools mourns this young woman and wants to acknowledge this loss for her family and the community members who are impacted."
 
She also referred to the recent shooting incident at a school in Wisconsin in saying the school community would be provided information on mental health support resources as well as emergency operating procedures. 
 
"No parent ever wants to receive the message that something terrible has happened to their child. During the holiday season, it seems to be even more of an injury to the soul as we are bombarded with images of family unity," Malkas wrote. "Yesterday was defined by both a loss to our local community, as well as the news of another tragic school shooting, this time in Madison, Wisc."
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